There is Power in the Word

The following is an excerpt from my third book, Hard Faith: A Memoir, being published by http://www.wipfandstock.com and coming out this summer. It describes the start of our journey to Peru to be with our daughter as she recovers from being hit by a tourist bus. A portion of Chapter 16-Three Weeks in Peru.

“The start of the journey-

The minute Paula and I hear about Tebben’s accident we nail our hearts to the Cross, rest in our Faith and know she is safe and will fully recover. We immediately receive the Word from God- Exodus 14:14 and Jeremiah 29:11. It is the hardest and easiest thing we’ve ever done. Paula has nausea from the start. We get on the plane from Newark to Orlando. I’m sitting between Paula and Sheryl, who’s sitting on the aisle seat across from her husband. She is a middle-aged woman and is holding a book with a pamphlet on top titled ‘God’s Continuing Faithfulness’ by Charles Stanley. At that moment, I am struggling with fear and my heart is spiritually and physically broken. When I read these words, God speaks to me and reassures me of his mercy and grace. Sheryl notices that I see the pamphlet and hides it at the back of her novel. I have no idea who she is or what she believes but I know God plans to use her to bless us. About halfway through the flight, I introduce myself, explain our circumstances and tell her that God spoke to me when I saw what she was reading. She and her husband are spirit filled, faithful Christians and she and I share our testimonies, have fellowship and praise the Lord the rest of the flight. As the plane begins to descend, Sheryl says she wants to pray for us. I wake up Paula, who’s sleeping and still feeling sick. Sheryl begins and prays Jeremiah 29:11 into our journey. The instant she begins to pray and call upon the Lord’s name, Paula is healed of her nausea. This is how our trip begins (see story of PT John Angeles from time in clinic in Lima, as it pertains to Jeremiah 29:11.”  It’s a God start.